Mack Swain
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Mack Swain (born Moroni Swain, February 16, 1876 – August 25, 1935) was an early American film actor, who appeared in many of Mack Sennett's comedies at Keystone Studios, including the Keystone Cops series. He also appeared in major features by Charlie Chaplin.
In the early 1900s Swain had his own stock theater company, which performed in the western and midwestern United States.
Swain worked in vaudeville before starting in silent film at Keystone Studios under Mack Sennett. While with Keystone, he was teamed with Chester Conklin to make a series of comedy films. With Swain as "Ambrose" and Conklin as the grand mustachioed "Walrus", they performed these roles in several films including The Battle of Ambrose and Walrus and Love, Speed and Thrills, both made in 1915.
Besides these comedies, the two appeared together in a variety of other films, 26 all told, and they also appeared separately and/or together in films starring Mabel Normand, Charles Chaplin, Roscoe Arbuckle and most of the rest of the roster of Keystone players.
Swain later took his Ambrose character with him to the L-KO Kompany. Having already worked with Charles Chaplin at Keystone, Swain began working with him again at First National in 1921, appearing in The Idle Class, Pay Day, and The Pilgrim. He is also remembered for his large supporting role as Big Jim McKay in the 1925 film The Gold Rush, for United Artists, written by and starring Chaplin.
For his contribution to the motion picture industry, Mack Swain received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, at 1500 Vine Street.
Acting
Movie
The Gold Rush
as Big Jim McKay
1925
Movie
Pay Day
as Foreman
1922
Movie
The Pilgrim
as Deacon
1923
Movie
The Idle Class
as Edna's Father (uncredited)
1921
Movie
Tillie's Punctured Romance
as Tillie's Father
1914
Movie
Laughing Gas
as Patient
1914
Movie
Mabel's Married Life
as Wellington, a Ladykiller
1914
Movie
Caught in a Cabaret
as Tough Patron / Party Guest / Boy's Father (uncredited)
1914
Movie
A Busy Day
as Husband
1914
Movie
The Eagle
as Innkeeper (uncredited)
1925
Movie
His Prehistoric Past
as King Lowbrow
1914
Movie
The Knockout
as Gambler (uncredited)
1914
Movie
His Musical Career
as Mike, Charlie's Partner
1914
Movie
His Trysting Places
as Ambrose
1914
Movie
Gentlemen of Nerve
as Mr. Walrus
1914
Movie
Getting Acquainted
as Ambrose
1914
Movie
The Fatal Mallet
as Rival Suitor (uncredited)
1914
Movie
Caught in the Rain
as Husband (uncredited)
1914
Movie
Mabel at the Wheel
as Race Spectator (uncredited)
1914
Movie
The Chaplin Revue
as Various (archive footage)
1959
Movie
A Thief Catcher
as Crook (uncredited)
1914
Movie
The Last Warning
as Robert Bunce
1928
Movie
My Best Girl
as Judge
1927
Movie
The Beloved Rogue
as Nicholas
1927
